Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• say what you have learned in your present job
• suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department
• explain why you do not wish to leave the company

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request a transfer to a different department for my career development.

First of all, I would like to explain my situation in detail. I started working here as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Chemistry. My job responsibilities include independent research, report writing, technical writing, presenting research at international platforms, collaborating and supervising undergraduates and postgraduates. In addition, if my supervisor needs any help with scientific reports, he will assign me that work. Since then, I have gained considerable experience in all my job responsibilities and have progressed to my current job.

Furthermore, career growth requires not only professional experience but also leadership skills. I would appreciate it if you could allow my transfer to the Physics Department, which would benefit my leadership skills. This would greatly help me because it would increase my chances of becoming an Assistant Professor in the future.

I like the company environment, such as work-life balance, equity, diversity, culture, long-term benefits and services, so I considered only transferring to a different department rather than changing companies. I would be grateful if you could initiate that process at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to your prompt response to this request.

Yours sincerely,

XYZ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly outline your current responsibilities, explain the benefits of a transfer to the Physics Department, and provide valid reasons for wanting to remain within the company. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between the transfer and the company's benefit is more explicitly linked to the company's goals rather than just your personal career progression.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' to link your ideas. The progression of information is logical. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices further, as some transitions are quite standard. Ensure that the referencing remains clear throughout, particularly when discussing your reasons for staying with the company.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context, such as 'postdoctoral fellow', 'collaborating', and 'earliest convenience'. The language is generally precise and fits the formal tone required for this task. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to professional development and corporate environments to show greater flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good command of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of the letter. You successfully use conditional structures and complex noun phrases. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. To achieve a higher score, ensure that you consistently use a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or inverted sentences, to demonstrate a more advanced level of grammatical control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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